Getting to know Golden Eagle pitcher David Hess

Junior pitcher David
Hess has played a key role in the success of the Tennessee Tech
baseball team during the past two seasons. This week, Hess and the
Golden Eagles head to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in
Jackson, Tenn.

This season, Hess leads the Golden Eagles with 14 starts and an
8-3 won-loss record, posting a 3.54 earned run average. In 86
innings he has struck out 91 batters. He ranks first in the OVC in
2014 in both total strikeouts and strikeouts per game, and is
second in the league in wins. Hess made 22 appearances last year as
a sophomore, including five starts. He led the OVC and finished
15th nationally with 10.55 strikeouts per nine innings, which was
the eighth-highest single season mark in program history. Hess also
tied for fourth in the league and ranked second on the team in
strikeouts with 77 on the year.

During his career at Tech, he has been named to the Athletic
Director’s Honor Roll six times and to the OVC
Commissioner’s Honor Roll twice. He is son of Jim and
Charlotte Hess, and is majoring in chemistry.

We recently sat down with David and asked him a few questions
about his Tech career...

Why did you choose to play at Tech?
I came on my visit and I really liked the coaches. Then I came and
I got a tour of the school. I really felt good about coming here
and how I felt that I could be a big part of the program and the
school itself.

What’s your favorite team
memory?
It would probably have to be last year when we won the OVC regular
season championship against Belmont. What really stands out is the
dog-pile after the game because somehow I got put on the bottom and
that’s not very fun.

Who is your inspiration to play
baseball?
I’d say the person who got me playing would have to be my
dad. He signed me up when I was little which was when I was four
years old, and I didn’t know what was going on. I
didn’t even know what a baseball was. I just sat in the
outfield and picked flowers just like the rest of us starting out.
He was just an overall big inspiration along with my grandpa. They
really pushed me to be the best I can and help me grow
up.

If you could play any other position, what would it
be?
I’d have to say probably first base. Usually, first basemen
hit a lot of home runs and they normally don’t have to run as
much because of it.

What are you going to take away from being a Tech
student-athlete?
I think the biggest thing I’ll take away is how to balance
things in life. I’ve learned how to balance work, practice,
and my schooling.

What’s your favorite thing about being a part
of the Tech baseball team?
The guys on the team are my favorite thing about it. We just all
have a really close team, and just the opportunity that I get to go
every day to play with them and be around them is something that I
wouldn’t trade for anything.

What are your plans after Tech?
Well, hopefully I get the opportunity to play pro baseball. As of
right now, I say that’s a good possibility. I’ll play
for whatever team wants me. After baseball, I’m looking to go
into some type of medical research.